Thank you for Preseason, Riot. Faith has been Restored.

Evening, folks.

I'd like to thank all the Devs at Riot for putting forth those inevitably obscene hours toward what has been shaping up to be the best Season of League yet, not in terms of cool gameplay, or in balanced anything, but just sheer scale and variety. I've seen more people experimenting with champs they actually like in my past four games on Patch 4.20 than I have in two seasons, and I can't say thank you enough for that. They are key points I'd specifically like to recognize formally here, though there are many more I'm leaving off.

I, for one, am 100% exciting for the (and I'm calling it now) resurgence of Mages into the metagame. The changes you've made for them have my games (2 as of the post date) with , my favorite champion, absolutely fun, which, again, hasn't been the case since Season 3 started. the other mages I've seen and tried have all done similarly well, while some of the assassins are actually having a harder time in lane, (which is good, 100-0ing somebody should come with some low points, though I've very bitter towards assassins, so I'm 100% biased in that statement).

I'd also like to say that, from my meager amount of experience in this new Season, I'm very impressed with your itemization changes. I feel like I can play a tank again without being melted as fast as I would've been in late Season 4, I feel as though melee and ranged top laners are going to both find their place in that lane.

My biggest source of anticipation here is how/if these Rift Changes (through the Jungle, Baron, Drake, and especially the towers) will actually open up more options for team compositions, or if the champions people think are powerful are going to cement the three or four strategies that they fit in into the metagame, leaving all the rest behind. Sure, they can all be viable, and I would agree if you told me right now that they are, but will they be overshadowed by champion picks?

Though this is mostly a positive thank you post, I am concerned about certain changes, and how the normally "Our Way is the Way" LCS folk are going to try to iron out a metagame from this. A minor concern, though still valid, is that Mid Lane champions who recall under the 2nd tier tower will not be able to be picked off by globals or from an enemy sneaking around because of the free shield. Will this be the case? I'd also like to reiterate that I'm concerned with how/if the competitive scene will influence the metagame (normally for the worst, through experience).

I'm hoping this initial round of changes signals that most Rioters (thanks to you who took time out of your schedule to post here during this) are going to at least have a presence on the boards. Even if you feel what you'll say'll garner you downvotes, this isn't a popularity contest, get into the nitty gritty, please! I (hopefully we) really look forward to seeing posts about issues from Rioters from every corner of your Cerberus-like organization, especially some that expand upon one another (i.e. a Lore Team member (hello again) working in tandem with one of the Artists who designs what attire your champion does/n't wear to answer questions about why they wear what they do).

To end this on a positive note, I'd again like to thank everyone involved for their contribution, even if it were minor, or has yet to make its debut (looking at Lore Team specifically, I believe in you, but please communicate, I'm sure you're not terrible people, and would like to hear from you sometime).